AGENT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH WENDI GU AND QUERY CRITIQUE GIVEAWAY

1. Tell us how you became an agent, how long you’ve been
one, and what you’ve been doing as an agent.

I was on my way to Singapore to do an internship, and my
flight connected through New York City. I had a few hours to kill, so a
friend’s mom gave me quick car tour of Manhattan, as I hadn’t been since I was
a toddler. Even from within the mini-van, I knew that I had to live here after
college. I’d been a Midwestern suburban girl my whole life, and I was
completely enamored by what I saw and felt.

I’d always loved books the most, and I’d always been curious
about book-making. And when I learned that that publishing industry thrived in
New York, I saw my path bright and clear before my eyes. So for my final
college internship summer, I applied wildly to every publishing internship I
could find. I landed one with Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger
Associates, and became her literary assistant after I graduated from
Northwestern University in 2013. I learned so much with Brenda. She taught me
how to pitch, sell, and advocate for my clients. With her encouragement and
support my list began to grow.

About a year ago, I started at Janklow & Nesbit to join
Brooks Sherman start the kid lit department!

As an agent, I want to work with books that unveil a little-known
piece of American history. These unsung hero stories are important pieces of
our country’s story. I also love contemporary, deeply emotional stories about
underdogs who learn to find their voice.

About the Agency:

2. Share a bit about your agency and what it offers to its
authors.

Janklow & Nesbit offers incredible support for their
clients. It’s like having an army behind you. All of my colleagues are very,
very good at making deals for their authors and illustrators. The publishing
industry can feel very byzantine to navigate at times, but the team of agents
(combined with our legal and accounting teams) are always looking ahead for
their authors.

I would also like to take the opportunity to plug JNA’s
growing children’s book department, fearlessly lead by Brooks Sherman!

What She’s Looking
For:

3. What age groups do you represent—picture books, MG,
and/or YA? What genres do you represent and what are you looking for in
submissions for these genres?

I represent fiction and nonfiction picture books, middle
grade, and YA. I am looking for multicultural stories, coming-of-age stories
that deal with mental health and family relationships, and female friendship.
For funny, I don’t much like slapstick. Weirdo humor is a plus. Otherwise, give
me a book that makes me cry! I am a big, sloppy, softie.

4.Is there anything
you would be especially excited to seeing in the genres you are interested in?

Immigrant stories! And, Asian-American everything.

What She Isn’t
Looking For:

5. What types of submissions are you not interested in?

I’m not as interested in high fantasy or science fiction,
but not closed to it! For example, I loved how Tomi Adeyemi’s CHILDREN OF BLOOD
AND BONE deals with colorism, and Dylan Farrow’s HUSH deals with female
empowerment.

Agent Philosophy:

6. What is your philosophy as an agent both in terms of the
authors you want to work with and the books you want to represent?

Making a book is deeply personal stuff, yet we’ve created an
entire industry out of it. With every client, I endeavor to find a strong
balance of the professional with a personal touch. As business partners, it’s
important that we communicate clearly, openly, and with accountability, but
that both sides try to keep the relationship an enjoyable!

Editorial Agent:

7. Are you an editorial agent? If so, what is your process
like when you’re working with your authors before submitting to editors?

Yes! Most of the books I work on go through at least two
rounds of edits before submission. I like to start the process with a call or
in-person conversation, and then I’ll send them the manuscript with track
changes. These track changes are a mix of line edits and comments. While I like
writing edit letters, I often find that it’s easier to point to the exact
moment that requires attention.

I should also add that I love editing picture book
biographies. I love editing picture book texts in general – right now, that is
my bread and butter.

9.Do you have any
specific dislikes in query letters or the first pages submitted to you?

Make sure I know why you thought I might be the right agent
for your book!

Response Time:

10. What’s your response time to queries and requests for
more pages of a manuscript?

I try to respond within 6-8 weeks. Unfortunately, I cannot
respond to each and every query, but if I am interested, I try to make it known
to the author within that time frame.

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Wendi.

­Wendi is generously offering a query critique to one lucky winner. To
enter, all you need to do is be a follower (just click the follower button if
you're not a follower) and leave a comment through November 10th. If your e-mail
is not on your Google Profile, you must leave it in the comments to
enter either contest. If you do not want to enter the contest, that's okay.
Just let me know in the comments.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this
in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. This is an international
giveaway.

Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating?
Please leave a comment or e-mail me at natalieiaguirre7@gmail.com

Note: These agent profiles and interviews presently focus on agents who
accept children's fiction. Please take the time to verify anything you might
use here before querying an agent. The information found here is subject to
change.

I think providing feedback is awesome. That's the main reason I wanted an agent. I mean, when I am done with a story I think it's awesome, but then I also went through the plaid pants phase in the 80s, so getting input is always helpful.

hi Miss Natalie and Miss Wendi. Cool interview. Lots of useful info. i never, ever wrote a query, so don't put me in the contest. it's really nice of you, Miss Wendi, to offer your time to help someone with a query. seems like so many authors struggle with query writing. if i ever get my m.g. novel done, for sure i'll query your agency.

What a great interview! Just like I love hearing how an author got the idea for a book, I enjoy reading about how agents got into the profession. Wendy's story really shows her passion. And I love how she says "I love editing picture book texts in general – right now, that is my bread and butter." I'd be thrilled to have her critique one of my picture books stories.